Sense 1idle -- (the state of an engine or other mechanism that is idling; "the car engine was running at idle") => operation -- (the state of being in effect or being operative; "that rule is no longer in operation")

Antonyms of verb idle

2 senses of idle

Sense 1idle, tick over -- (run disconnected or idle; "the engine is idling") Antonym of run (Sense 13) => run -- (be operating, running or functioning; "The car is still running--turn it off!")

Sense 2idle, laze, slug, stagnate -- (be idle; exist in a changeless situation; "The old man sat and stagnated on his porch"; "He slugged in bed all morning") Antonym of work (Sense 1) => work -- (exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity; "I will work hard to improve my grades"; "she worked hard for better living conditions for the poor")

Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb idle

2 senses of idle

Sense 1idle, tick over -- (run disconnected or idle; "the engine is idling")

Sense 2idle, laze, slug, stagnate -- (be idle; exist in a changeless situation; "The old man sat and stagnated on his porch"; "He slugged in bed all morning")

busy (vs. idle) -- (actively or fully engaged or occupied; "busy with her work"; "a busy man"; "too busy to eat lunch") => at work (predicate) -- (on the job; "had been at work for over an hour before her boss arrived") => drudging, laboring, labouring, toiling -- (doing arduous or unpleasant work; "drudging peasants"; "the bent backs of laboring slaves picking cotton"; "toiling coal miners in the black deeps") => engaged, occupied -- (having ones attention or mind or energy engaged; "she keeps herself fully occupied with volunteer activities"; "deeply engaged in conversation") => overbusy -- (too busy) => tied up (predicate) -- (kept occupied or engaged; "she's tied up at the moment and can't see you"; "the phone was tied up for almost an hour") => up to -- (busy or occupied with; "what have you been up to?"; "up to no good")

INDIRECT (VIA frivolous) -> serious -- (concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities; "a serious student of history"; "a serious attempt to learn to ski"; "gave me a serious look"; "a serious young man"; "are you serious or joking?"; "Don't be so serious!")

INDIRECT (VIA irresponsible) -> responsible -- (worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable; "a responsible adult"; "responsible journalism"; "a responsible position"; "the captain is responsible for the ship's safety"; "the cabinet is responsible to the parliament")

Sense 7idle, jobless, out of work -- (not having a job; "idle carpenters"; "jobless transients"; "many people in the area were out of work") => unemployed (vs. employed) -- (not engaged in a gainful occupation; "unemployed workers marched on the capital")